The global glow of the FIFA World Cup spotlight is now shining down on Canada for the very first time. Canada’s opener on Friday kicks off 13 games taking place on the pitch in Vancouver and Toronto.
Many of those who’ve been involved in soccer in Canada for decades believe co-hosting the World Cup on home soil offers an opportunity for the country to showcase the best of what Canadian culture can offer the world.
Ever since he moved to Canada as a teenager from England, footy fanatic James Sharman has been championing soccer in Canada and sharing the beauty of the global game here in his adopted country.
“Believe it or not, Canadian culture isn’t that well known in all corners of the globe, this is a chance for us to show the world what we have to offer,” says Sharman.
“Canada is more than just a burgeoning landscape and country, with so many people visiting, travelling here and watching on their TV sets around the world, they’re going to see a brand-new country they just haven’t seen before.”
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Toronto is expecting at least 300,000 visitors to arrive from outside the city, more than 350,000 are expected to land in Vancouver.
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Amy Walsh appeared in two women’s World Cups. Speaking to CTV News, she shared her belief that this is an opportunity for Canadians across the country to put their best foot forward.
“To show that Canada is diverse, not only in its people, but that its unique and we’re friendly and we’re welcoming but we’re also tough and we’re hard to play against. It gives an opportunity for the world to get to know what Canada’s all about and who Canadians are,” says Walsh.
The two stadiums where the games will be played may be more than 4000 kilometres apart, but the games promise to present an opportunity to pull a country together.
“This is the biggest sport on the planet, it’s bigger than the Olympics,” proclaims Sharman.
Both Walsh and Sharman now work together co-hosting Footy Prime The Podcast. For each of them, the arrival of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada is surreal.
“This country is going to be alive, they’re going to take notice, they’re going to be talking about soccer. That is so important,” says Sharman.
The goal for the men’s national team is to find glory on the pitch, though Walsh who played in 102 matches for Canada on the global soccer stage, believes the success of this World Cup for Canada will be measured off the field in the years ahead.
“The legacy of this tournament for Canada is really about who we are and what our identity is as Canadians and how that’s tied to sport. Its not really what the result is and whether we win or lose, it’s what is the trickle-down effect?” she says.
“What does it mean for the next generation, that somebody else can be an Alistair Johnston or a Maxime Crepeau or a Alfonso Davies or a Promise David, that these players are known and that somebody else aspires to do that one day,” says Walsh, who as a former player understands the importance of inspiring young Canadians to aim higher and dream big.
The beautiful game is here. The world is watching and arriving as Canada opens its doors for all to see.
